The Dallas Mavericks enter Monday’s matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans at 11–18, still working to stabilize a season shaped by early disruption and shifting availability. While the record reflects the uneven start, Dallas remains a team the rest of the NBA is watching ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline.

As it stands, the Mavericks’ most feasible trade candidate for rival teams with interest is Daniel Gafford. Trading for him doesn’t require complicated salary-matching maneuvers for him to be traded, and he can plug in with just about any team as a paint finisher and shot blocker.

A few known teams interested in acquiring a center include the Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, and Toronto Raptors, sources tell DallasHoopsJournal.com. It remains to be seen how aggressive trade efforts will prove to be specifically for Gafford.

How aggressively those teams pursue an upgrade, and whether Dallas ultimately views moving Gafford as compatible with its current trajectory, remains unresolved. For now, the Mavericks continue to balance short-term competitiveness with longer-term flexibility as league-wide movement begins to crystallize.

That evaluation has also been tied to how Anthony Davis has looked since returning from his calf strain — a checkpoint rival teams have been watching closely as the Mavericks’ direction comes into sharper focus.

After easing back into the rotation, Davis has shown a clear uptick in both workload and effectiveness. Over his last four games, he is averaging 23.0 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, reinforcing the two-way presence Dallas relies on when fully healthy. He punctuated that stretch Saturday in Philadelphia with a 24-point, 15-rebound double-double, anchoring the interior on both ends.

Around the NBA, that trend matters.

“This is what teams want to see,” a member of a rival NBA front office told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “When AD looks like himself — moving well, finishing through contact, controlling the glass — he brings a lot of value to the table. Any team trading for him has to be confident they can go for it this season. If he keeps playing at this level, he’s going to build up his market.”

For Dallas, Davis’ recent form has provided needed clarity. His ability to reassert himself as a dominant interior force not only raises the team’s short-term ceiling, but also influences how rival front offices contextualize the Mavericks’ roster — and the degree to which Dallas feels compelled to adjust it as the deadline approaches.

Here’s a look at some intel from around the rest of the NBA.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

As the Milwaukee Bucks continue to navigate an underachieving season while sitting outside the Eastern Conference’s top 10 at 11-18, the rest of the NBA is closely monitoring the situation surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo.

There is a significant sense of internal pressure the Bucks face to make the most of the upcoming trade deadline to add the necessary talent to win around Antetokounmpo, sources tell DallasHoopsJournal.com. While many around the NBA believe the writing is on the wall for Antetokounmpo’s departure, he has publicly stated the opposite of a star that is forcing his way out.

“If my agent is talking to the Bucks about it, he is his own person. He can have any conversation he wants about it,” Antetokounmpo said recently. “At the end of the day, I don’t work for my agent, my agent works for me. There’s going to be conversations that are going to be made between him and the Bucks and him and his other players and him and other teams and other GMs, executives around the league.”

One league source told DallasHoopsJournal.com that Antetokounmpo is reminding them of Damian Lillard‘s exit from the Portland Trail Blazers.

“This feels like Damian Lillard’s exit from Portland. Nobody wants to be the bad guy, but they know what needs to be done,” one source said.

Around the league, the most viable potential suitors for Antetokounmpo are increasingly viewed as being in the Eastern Conference, sources tell DallasHoopsJournal.com. However, there is growing skepticism among rival teams that the New York Knicks would be willing to break up their roster midseason to pursue a trade. While Antetokounmpo has viewed New York as a potential destination, barring a significant shift, any such scenario would likely now require postseason disappointment before such a drastic move.

Among Eastern Conference teams to keep an eye on is the Miami Heat, sources tell DallasHoopsJournal.com, who continue to monitor options to acquire a star player. As included in our previous NBA notebook, the Heat — like the San Antonio Spurs — never presented its best offer for now 37-year-old Kevin Durant despite being on his shortlist of trade destinations with the goal of aiming higher for Antetokounmpo.

“Giannis will have a lot of say in where he goes, if it reaches that point,” one source said.

With the potential to include Tyler Herro and Kel’el Ware in a trade offer, Miami’s possible offerings for a talent like Antetokounmpo are respectable. It’s well known in league circles that Miami has sought to find a superstar to pair with Bam Adebayo. In addition to both being represented by Octagon’s Alex Saratsis, Antetokounmpo has long praised Adebayo.

“I’m going to take a guy that I believe is one of the hardest playing dudes out there,” Antetokounmpo said of Adebayo after picking him in the 2020 NBA All-Star Game. “He gives everything, every single night for his team in order for them to win. Bam Adebayo.”

Other East teams that previously registered interest in Antetokounmpo are the Atlanta Hawks and Raptors. However, there is doubt that Jalen Johnson would be made available by the Hawks in any trade talks amid his ongoing rise to stardom, sources tell DallasHoopsJournal.com. Toronto has been linked to Anthony Davis, but a path to Antetokounmpo would be naturally complicated.

Many developments will be impacted by Antetokounmpo’s market since his availability — whether immediate or eventual — would reshape the priorities of contenders and asset-rich teams alike, influencing not only which franchises choose to act aggressively at the deadline, but also which elect to wait, preserve flexibility, or redirect resources toward secondary star options.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Coming off a 64-win regular season, the Cleveland Cavaliers have since underachieved in the playoffs — failing to reach the Eastern Conference Finals — and now sit at 15–14, seventh in the Eastern Conference and firmly in the play-in picture.

The Cavaliers’ recent four-game stretch has raised concerns. Cleveland lost to Golden State despite the Warriors being without Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, and Al Horford, then narrowly escaped with a four-point win over the 4-20 Washington Wizards behind a 48-point performance from Donovan Mitchell. The Cavaliers followed that with a loss to the Charlotte Hornets before absorbing a 16-point defeat to the Chicago Bulls, who entered the matchup having gone just 2–8 over their previous 10 games.

There is a growing belief around the NBA that Cleveland has to do something significant soon if the state of affairs does not significantly improve. Whether it involves trading Darius Garland and/or Jarrett Allen to create a more balanced roster around Mitchell, or fire head coach Kenny Atkinson, the options are there.

Although no move is believed to be imminent, there are internal questions about Atkinson’s leadership.

“Kenny does a great job of building up a young team into a winning program. Does it stop there, though? He hasn’t shown he can take a contender over the top,” one source said.

If the Cavaliers were to eventually move on from Atkinson, sources tell DallasHoopsJournal.com, that Mitchell’s preferred interim head coach would be current assistant coach Johnnie Bryant.

In terms of roster movement, Garland is viewed as an attractive trade candidate around the NBA with fewer risk than some of the other high-profile guards that teams are monitoring, including Ja Morant, LaMelo Ball, and Trae Young. Additionally, the intel from some NBA teams is a perception that Garland would like to run his own team again at some point, as opposed to being in a more complementary role next to Mitchell.

“Darius is the safest option on the trade market for a team seeking a point guard upgrade,” a source said. “There are teams who think he can handle more being put on his plate.”

The Sacramento Kings have kept an eye on Garland’s situation as they remain motivated to find a long-term answer at point guard following De’Aaron Fox‘s departure, sources tell DallasHoopsJournal.com. The Minneota Timberwolves are another known team motivated for point guard help to take pressure off of Anthony Edwards. However, it’d be challenging for either team to find a viable path to add Garland.

As for Allen, Cleveland’s stance appears firmer. There are Eastern Conference teams already in the market for a center, but it’s difficult to envision Allen being traded to one of them unless the offer was “irresistible.”

“[Allen] has a lot of fans around the NBA, but unless the trade package was just irresistible, it’s hard to see the Cavs being willing to help another team in the East,” one source said. “Keep that in mind.”

As the Cavaliers have attempted to navigate the margins of the roster to field a competitive supporting cast around its core four players, the front office has experienced plenty of misfires. Most notably, the De’Andre Hunter trade has grown to be perceived as a failure. Max Strus is making $15.9 million and he’s yet to appear in a single game this season.

“The Cavs are not as deep as they thought they’d be. They’ve struck out on the margins,” one NBA executive said. “Trading for Hunter was an all-in move that didn’t even help them even reach a Conference Final. Now he’s coming off the bench. Ty Jerome leaving created a big void that Lonzo Ball hasn’t filled… They’re paying Strus a lot and he fell off after the first year of his contract. They are very limited as far as possible changes are concerned.”

While the attention will naturally be on higher-profile possible trade candidates like Garland or Allen, one player to monitor is Dean Wade, sources tell DallasHoopsJournal.com. Averaging 5.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 22.7 minutes per game, Wade is earning $6.6 million on an expiring deal.

Utah Jazz

Since the introduction of the play-in tournament, the balance between competing and maximizing draft position has become central to the approach of teams like the Utah Jazz, whose 10-17 record sits in the bottom tier of the Western Conference.

Utah’s primary focus is retaining its top-eight protected 2026 first-round pick, which would otherwise convey to the Oklahoma City Thunder, sources tell DallasHoopsJournal.com. Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George remain franchise cornerstones, while Kyle Anderson, Jusuf Nurkić, Kevin Love, and Georges Niang are viewed as trade candidates.

Contract talks with Walker Kessler loom this offseason. As we previously reported, Kessler sought upwards of $120 million in total compensation in early discussions, a figure Utah was unwilling to meet. As it stands, Kessler would need to secure an offer of that magnitude on the open market for it to be matched. Utah, however, remains interested in retaining him.

As previously reported, as it stands, Kessler would need to go out and find that type of offer on the open market to get it matched. The Indiana Pacers are a team with known interest ahead of upcoming free agency, sources tell DallasHoopsJournal.com.

Regardless, Utah remains interested in re-signing Kessler.

One certainty the Jazz can take solace in is leadership. Utah’s organization is confident in head coach Will Hardy to be the leader who guides the organization out of the rebuilding process once that time comes, sources tell DallasHoopsJournal.com. This sentiment is felt at the ownership level.

San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs, currently second in the Western Conference with a 21-7 record, have shown meaningful progress without signaling urgency to accelerate their timeline through a major trade.

San Antonio’s run to the NBA Cup final provided a glimpse of what the roster can become once fully healthy and developed, but league sources who have spoken with DallasHoopsJournal.com have become skeptical that the Spurs will pursue a splashy midseason move that compromises long-term flexibility. The franchise continues to prioritize internal growth around its young core while preserving future assets.

“They’re not going to sit around being satisfied, but I don’t see them making a move like trading for Giannis,” one source said. “There are more reasonable options out there. They can be patient and opportunistic.”

A few rival NBA teams have pondered if San Antonio could look to add an emerging young talent that would add to their core. One name that was floated to DallasHoopsJournal.com was Trey Murphy III as a potential fit, if the circumstances were to be viable in the future.

“They have the assets to make a trade like Orlando did to add Desmond Bane,” one source said. “It’d have to be someone that fits their timeline. Someone like a Trey Murphy III, for example, could be a strong fit.”

That perspective was echoed publicly following the Cup loss, with rookie guard Dylan Harper framing the experience as part of a broader developmental arc rather than a missed opportunity.

“Sky is the limit,” Harper said. “It’s our second game (with a healthy roster). It’s nothing to overreact about. We have won a lot of close games in the Cup or in the season in general. To be on this side is definitely a good learning experience. It teaches us a lot about ourselves, and it’s good that we have a whole lot of room to grow knowing what we have done up to this point.”

That mentality aligns with how rival executives view San Antonio’s approach — competitive, but patient — with little appetite to sacrifice future upside for short-term gains.

New Orleans Pelicans

While the New Orleans Pelicans continue to straddle the line between development and evaluation amid a 7-22 start, several teams around the NBA are closely monitoring their roster. Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones naturally command significant interest, sources tell DallasHoopsJournal.com. They aren’t being shopped, so teams with interest in a wing — like the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors — would need to construct a genuinely enticing trade package.

Another name increasingly drawing attention is Saddiq Bey, sources tell DallasHoopsJournal.com. After missing the entire 2024–25 season rehabbing a torn ACL, Bey has re-established himself as a reliable, versatile contributor whose value extends beyond box-score production.

“I prayed during my whole rehab process to be in a situation where it could be beneficial for me,” Bey told RG. “And so just being… God is blessing me with the opportunity to be healthy and be able to play. I just give all the gratefulness to Him.”

Time away from the floor altered how Bey views his impact, forcing him to study the game from the outside and redefine success beyond scoring.

“Watching the game, man, and just learning a lot of the intricate details in the game of where I could impact when I come back,” Bey said. “And then off the court, man, just real spiritually, like having to really humble myself in life in general and knowing that the game can be taken away from you so quick, man. So, I learned a lot through that process.”

That reflection has translated into tangible on-court versatility. Bey has filled multiple roles depending on lineup needs, guarding different matchups and toggling between on-ball and off-ball responsibilities.

The results have been steady. Bey is averaging 14.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 28 games this season. In 20 starts, that production jumps to 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists, while shooting 37.7 percent from three on volume and 47.4 percent overall.

For now, Bey remains focused on sustaining rhythm and helping New Orleans stabilize. Around the league, however, his re-emergence has not gone unnoticed — particularly among teams seeking a playoff-ready wing with size, strength, and proven scoring upside.

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